Robert Davis, the deputy leader of Westminster City Council, has been treated to Centre Court seats at Wimbledon, dinner at the Ritz, and attended the press night of the musical Hamilton
A Conservative councillor has received 514 freebies, including West End tickets, meals, and trips abroad, in the last three years.
Robert Davis, the deputy leader of Westminster City Council, has been treated to Centre Court seats at Wimbledon, dinner at the Ritz, and attended the press night of the musical Hamilton.
The solicitor has also been taken on 10 foreign trips since 2015, including visits to the south of France, the US and Switzerland.
The revelations surrounding Mr Davis’s extravagant lifestyle were revealed in the councillor’s declaration of interest, which shows he was taken out for 269 free meals in the three years.
He has enjoyed lunch with high-powered people such as Andrew Lloyd-Webber and the Earl of Chichester, while theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh gave him tickets to eight West End shows.
It is estimated Mr Davis could have received gifts and hospitality worth as much as £15,000 over the three years, according to a report by the Guardian.
Since 2015 the councillor has been taken out to fine-dining spots such as the Ivy, the Ritz, Claridges, and Annabel’s.
Mr Davis is one of the councillors for the Lancaster Gate ward, an area around Paddington, and until last year was the chairman of the council’s planning committee.
Last night Labour councillors raised concerns Mr Davis was being wined and dined by big developers as he had received hospitality from property firms at least 150 times since 2015.
He was entertained by firms such as the Westminster Property Association, who treated him to dinner at the Ivy Grill, and lunches at the Grosvenor Park Hotel and Mayfair restaurant Sexy Fish.
(left to right) Director of The Ivy, Fernando Peire is joined by Miranda Richardson, Jack Fox, Samantha Barks, and Councillor Robert Davis from Westminster Council outside the Ivy Restaurant in London as a plaque is unveiled to mark the establishment’s 100th anniversary
Councillor Robert Davis with the then-Mayor of London Boris Johnson, unveiling a plaque in Piccadilly in London
Labour councillor Adam Hug criticised Mr Davis’s close association with developers, claiming fewer affordable homes have been built in the borough than set guidelines.
Writing on the Labour Westminster blog, Councillor Adam Hug said: ‘Labour will act to change the broken culture at Westminster Council so that we put the needs of residents before those of developers.
‘Councillors should have a transparent relationship with developers and other powerful interests so that residents can be assured that their representatives are fighting for them rather than dining out on developers’ expense accounts.
Councillors have to register gifts and entertainment worth more than £25 within a month of receiving them.
Guidelines on Westminster City Council’s website state: ‘You must register, within 28 days of receiving it, any gifts or hospitality worth £25 or over that you receive in connection with your official duties as a Member, and the source of the gift or hospitality.
‘Like other interests in your register of interests, you automatically have a personal interest in a matter under consideration if it is likely to affect a person who gave you a gift or hospitality that is registered.’
The council also says members should register low-value gifts if they receive a number from the same person, which puts the cumulative value over £25.
Councillor Robert Davis from Westminster Council is joined by (left to right) Miranda Richardson, Jack Fox, Samantha Barks and Director of The Ivy, Fernando Peire to unveil a plaque to mark the 100th anniversary of the Ivy Restaurant in London
By contrast, council leader Nickie Aiken has only received nine gifts in the three years, including subsidised Taylor Swift tickets and entry to the Chelsea Flower Show.
There is no evidence to suggest Mr Davis has broken any rules.
Mr Davis told the Guardian: ‘As planning chairman it was an important part of my job to meet groups ranging from developers to residents, property agents, heritage associations, arts groups and trade organisations.
‘These meetings were all properly declared and open to anyone to examine. Their sole purpose was to ensure and encourage the right kind of development in Westminster and ensure that anything put before the council was going to benefit the city as a whole.’
A spokesman for Westminster City Council told the paper any speculation a councillor could be ‘bought’ by developers is ‘demonstrably untrue’, adding: ‘Where hospitality is offered, these meetings are all declared in the register of interests and have absolutely no sway on planning decisions.’